Clutch assembly with formed retention ring

Abstract

A clutch assembly for a vehicle transmission includes a housing defined by a wall having an annular configuration circumscribing a clutch axis. The wall extends between an open end and a floor. The floor extends inwardly from the wall toward the clutch axis. A plurality of splines formed in the wall and each is spaced from the open end of the housing. A snap ring retains clutch plates in the housing. The open end of the wall is deformed inwardly toward the clutch axis defining a retainer for retaining the snap ring within the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A clutch assembly for a transmission, comprising:
 a housing defined by a wall having an annular configuration circumscribing a clutch axis, said wall extending between an open end and a floor, said floor extending inwardly from said wall toward said clutch axis;   a plurality of splines formed in said wall, said splines being spaced from said open end of said housing;   a snap ring for retaining clutch plates in said housing; and   said open end of said wall being deformed inwardly toward said clutch axis defining a retainer for retaining said snap ring within said housing.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said wall of said housing includes a major housing diameter and a minor housing diameter, said retainer defining a minor retainer diameter being truncated between said major housing diameter and said minor housing diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said retainer provides three hundred sixty degrees of contact retention to said snap ring. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of tabs extending radially inwardly from said retainer. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said tabs circumferentially overly said splines. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said snap ring comprises a plurality of snap rings each having a different thickness for accommodating variation of said clutch plates. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said clutch plates include a peripheral edge and said peripheral edge defines a plurality of plate teeth of thereby defining a plate major diameter, said plate major diameter being lesser than said housing major diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said splines formed in said wall of said housing are spaced from said floor of said housing. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said retainer includes a retainer wall having a diameter greater than said major housing diameter. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly set forth in  claim 1 , including a plurality of clutch rings being retained within said clutch housing by said snap ring. 
     
     
         11 . A clutch housing for use in a transmission, the housing enclosing clutch plates interacting with a drive shaft of a vehicle, comprising:
 a wall having a tubular configuration with an open end and a partially closed end, said partially closed end having a floor extending radially inwardly from said wall;
 a plurality of splines formed into said wall thereby providing gear like engagement with the clutch plates disposed inside said housing, said plurality of splines being spaced from said open end of said wall; and 
 a retainer defined by a hem at said open end of said wall, said hem extending radially inwardly from said wall for retaining a snap ring used to retain the clutch plate assemblies within said clutch housing. 
   
     
     
         12 . The clutch housing set forth in  claim 11 , comprising a plurality of tabs extending radially inwardly from said retainer. 
     
     
         13 . The clutch housing set forth in  claim 12 , wherein each of said tabs are circumferentially aligned with one of said plurality of splines formed in said wall of said clutch housing. 
     
     
         14 . The clutch housing set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of splines are spaced from said floor of said clutch housing. 
     
     
         15 . The clutch housing set forth in  claim 11 , wherein each of said plurality of splines define a continuous surface. 
     
     
         16 . The clutch housing set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said retainer defines a space with said plurality of splines for receiving a snap ring. 
     
     
         17 . The clutch housing set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said retainer defines an outer retainer wall having a diameter greater than a major diameter of said wall of said housing. 
     
     
         18 . The clutch housing set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said retainer defines a major retainer diameter, said splines define a minor spline diameter and said housing defines a major housing diameter, said retainer major diameter being greater than said minor spline diameter and said major housing diameter. 
     
     
         19 . The clutch housing set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said clutch plates include a plurality of teeth for engaging said plurality of splines and said clutch teeth define a major teeth diameter being less than said major retainer diameter. 
     
     
         20 . The clutch housing set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said retainer engages said snap ring along three hundred sixty degrees of said wall having a tubular configuration.